North Carolina 2025-2026 Regular Session

North Carolina Senate Bill S457 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1		GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
2	2		SESSION 2025
3		-	S 1
4		-	SENATE BILL 457
	3	+	S D
	4	+	SENATE BILL DRS35166-LUe-45A
	5	+
5	6
6	7
7	8		Short Title: Automatic Voter Registration. (Public)
8	9		Sponsors: Senators Meyer, Chitlik, and Batch (Primary Sponsors).
9		-	Referred to: ~~Rules and Operations of the Senate~~
10		-	~~March 25, 2025~~
11		-	~~S457 -v-1~~
	10	+	Referred to:
	11	+
	12	+	DRS35166 -LUe-45A
12	13		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
13	14		AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION AT DRIVERS 2
14	15		LICENSE OFFICES, PUBLIC AGENCIES, COMMUNITY COLLEGES, AND 3
15	16		COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA 4
16	17		AND TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS TO IMPLEMENT AN 5
17	18		OUTREACH CAMPAIGN INFORMING CITIZENS ABOUT AUTOMATIC VOTER 6
18	19		REGISTRATION. 7
19	20		The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 8
20	21		SECTION 1. G.S. 163-82.3 reads as rewritten: 9
21	22		"§ 163-82.3. Voter registration application forms.forms; automatic voter registration at 10
22	23		certain agencies. 11
23	24		(a) Form Developed by State Board of Elections. – The State Board of Elections shall 12
24	25		develop an application form for voter registration. Any person may use the form to apply to do 13
25	26		any of the following: 14
26	27		… 15
27	28		(c) Agency Application Form. Application. – The county board of elections where an 16
28	29		applicant resides shall accept as application for any of the purposes set out in subsection (a) of 17
29	30		this section a form automatic voter registration developed pursuant to G.S. 163-82.19 or 18
30	31		G.S. 163-82.20." 19
31	32		SECTION 2. G.S. 163-82.6 reads as rewritten: 20
32	33		"§ 163-82.6. Acceptance of application forms. 21
33	34		(a) How the Form May Be Submitted. – The county board of elections shall accept any 22
34	35		form described in G.S. 163-82.3 if the applicant submits the form by mail, facsimile transmission, 23
35	36		transmission of a scanned document, or in person. person or by automatic voter registration 24
36	37		pursuant to G.S. 115D-5, 116-11, 163-82.19, or 163-82.20. The applicant may delegate the 25
37	38		submission of the form to another person. Any person who communicates to an applicant 26
38	39		acceptance of that delegation shall deliver that form so that it is received by the appropriate 27
39	40		county board of elections in time to satisfy the registration deadline in subdivision (1) or (2) of 28
40	41		subsection (d) of this section for the next election. It shall be a Class 2 misdemeanor for any 29
41	42		person to communicate to the applicant acceptance of that delegation and then fail to make a 30
42	43		good faith effort to deliver the form so that it is received by the county board of elections in time 31
43	44		to satisfy the registration deadline in subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (d) of this section for 32
44	45		the next election. It shall be an affirmative defense to a charge of failing to make a good faith 33
45	46		effort to deliver a delegated form by the registration deadline that the delegatee informed the 34
46		-	applicant that the form would not likely be delivered in time for the applicant to vote in the next 35 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
47		-	Page 2 Senate Bill 457-First Edition
	47	+	applicant that the form would not likely be delivered in time for the applicant to vote in the next 35
	48	+	FILED SENATE
	49	+	Mar 24, 2025
	50	+	S.B. 457
	51	+	PRINCIPAL CLERK General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	52	+	Page 2 DRS35166-LUe-45A
48	53		election. It shall be a Class 2 misdemeanor for any person to sell or attempt to sell a completed 1
49	54		voter registration form or to condition its delivery upon payment. 2
50	55		… 3
51	56		(d) Registration Deadlines for a Primary or Election. – In order to be valid for a primary 4
52	57		or election, the form:form must comply with one of the following: 5
53	58		(1) If submitted by mail, must be postmarked at least 25 days before the primary 6
54	59		or election, except that any mailed application on which the postmark is 7
55	60		missing or unclear is validly submitted if received in the mail not later than 20 8
56	61		days before the primary or election,election. 9
57	62		(2) If submitted in person, by facsimile transmission, or by transmission of a 10
58	63		scanned document, or by automatic voter registration, must be received by the 11
59	64		county board of elections by a time established by that board, but no earlier 12
60	65		than 5:00 P.M., on the twenty-fifth day before the primary or election,election. 13
61	66		(3) If submitted through a delegatee who violates the duty set forth in subsection 14
62	67		(a) of this section, must be signed by the applicant and given to the delegatee 15
63	68		not later than 25 days before the primary or election, except as provided in 16
64	69		subsection (f) of this section. 17
65	70		…." 18
66	71		SECTION 3. G.S. 163-82.19 reads as rewritten: 19
67	72		"§ 163-82.19. Voter Automatic voter registration at drivers license offices; coordination on 20
68	73		data interface. 21
69	74		(a) Automatic Voter Registration at Drivers License Offices. – The Beginning January 1, 22
70	75		2026, the Division of Motor Vehicles shall, pursuant to the rules adopted by in consultation with 23
71	76		the State Board of Elections, modify its forms so that implement a method by which any eligible 24
72	77		person who applies for original issuance, renewal or correction of a drivers license, or special 25
73	78		identification card issued under G.S. 20-37.7 may, on a part of the form, complete an application 26
74	79		to register shall be automatically registered to vote, or able to update the voter's registration if 27
75	80		the voter has changed his or her address or moved from one precinct to another or from one 28
76	81		county to another. The person taking the application shall ask if the applicant is a citizen of the 29
77	82		United States. If the applicant states that the applicant is not a citizen of the United States, or 30
78	83		declines to answer the question, the person taking the application shall inform the applicant that 31
79	84		it is a felony for a person who is not a citizen of the United States to apply to register to vote. The 32
80	85		application shall state in clear language the penalty for violation of this section. The necessary 33
81	86		forms shall be prescribed by the State Board of Elections. The form must ask for the previous 34
82	87		voter registration address of the voter, if any. If a previous address is listed, and it is not in the 35
83	88		county of residence of the applicant, the appropriate county board of elections shall treat the 36
84	89		application as an authorization to cancel the previous registration and also process it as such 37
85	90		under the procedures of G.S. 163-82.9. If a previous address is listed and that address is in the 38
86	91		county where the voter applies to register, the application shall be processed as if it had been 39
87	92		submitted under G.S. 163-82.9.inform the applicant of the following: 40
88	93		(1) That the applicant shall be registered to vote or have the applicant's voter 41
89	94		registration record updated, as applicable, unless the applicant declines. 42
90	95		(2) The qualifications to vote under G.S. 163-55. 43
91	96		(3) That the applicant should not register if the applicant does not meet the 44
92	97		qualifications described under subdivision (2) of this subsection. 45
93	98		(4) That any person who willfully and knowingly and with fraudulent intent gives 46
94	99		false information on the application is guilty of a Class I felony. 47
95	100		(5) That if the applicant declines to register to vote, the fact that the applicant has 48
96	101		declined to register will remain confidential and be used for voter registration 49
97	102		purposes only. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
98		-	~~Senate Bill 457-First Edition~~ Page 3
	103	+	DRS35166-LUe-45A Page 3
99	104		(6) Information regarding the address confidentiality program under Chapter 15C 1
100	105		of the General Statutes, including how to register for the program and how 2
101	106		voter registration may impact participation in the program. 3
102	107		(a1) Requirements. – If the applicant does not decline voter registration, the person taking 4
103	108		the application shall require the applicant to provide all information requested of the applicant 5
104	109		under G.S. 163-82.4, including declaring a preference to be affiliated with a political party or a 6
105	110		preference to be an unaffiliated voter. If the applicant fails to declare a political party affiliation, 7
106	111		the applicant's political affiliation shall be designated as unaffiliated. The applicant shall provide 8
107	112		an electronic signature as required under G.S. 163-82.6(c), subject to the penalty of perjury, by 9
108	113		which the applicant attests that the information provided by the applicant is true and that the 10
109	114		applicant meets all qualifications to become a registered voter. 11
110	115		(a2) When Registration Effective. – Registration shall become effective as provided in 12
111	116		G.S. 163-82.7. Applications to register to vote accepted at a drivers license office under this 13
112	117		section until the deadline established in G.S. 163-82.6(d)(2) shall be treated as timely made for 14
113	118		an election, and no person who completes an application at that drivers license office shall be 15
114	119		denied the vote in that election for failure to apply earlier than that deadline. 16
115	120		(a3) All applications shall be forwarded by the Transmittal from Department of 17
116	121		Transportation to Board of Elections. – The Department of Transportation shall electronically 18
117	122		transmit the applications of applicants who have not declined voter registration to the appropriate 19
118	123		board of elections not later than five business days after the date of acceptance, according to rules 20
119	124		which shall be promulgated by the State Board of Elections. Board. Those rules shall provide for 21
120	125		a paperless, instant, electronic transfer of applications to the appropriate board of elections. 22
121	126		(a4) Confidentiality of Declination to Register. – No information relating to a declination 23
122	127		to register to vote in connection with a voter registration application at a Division of Motor 24
123	128		Vehicles office may be used for any purpose other than voter registration. The State Board shall 25
124	129		ensure that information acquired for purposes of automatic voter registration under this section 26
125	130		is kept confidential in accordance with G.S. 163-82.4(c), including compliance with any voter 27
126	131		registration requirements under G.S. 163-82.10. 28
127	132		(b) Any Ineligible Applications Prohibited. – If a person who is ineligible to vote 29
128	133		becomes registered to vote pursuant to this section, the presumption shall be that the person's 30
129	134		registration is deemed officially authorized and shall not be attributed to any fault of the person. 31
130	135		However, any person who willfully and knowingly and with fraudulent intent gives false 32
131	136		information on the application described under this section is guilty of a Class I felony. 33
132	137		… 34
133	138		(d) No Requirement to Determine Eligibility. – Nothing in this section shall be construed 35
134	139		as requiring the Department of Transportation to determine eligibility for voter registration and 36
135	140		voting." 37
136	141		SECTION 4. G.S. 163-82.20 reads as rewritten: 38
137	142		"§ 163-82.20. Voter registration at other public agencies.agencies; automatic voter 39
138	143		registration. 40
139	144		(a) Voter Registration Agencies. – Every office in this State which accepts: 41
140	145		… 42
141	146		(b) Duties of Voter Registration Agencies. – A Agencies; Automatic Voter Registration 43
142	147		Information. – Beginning January 1, 2027, a voter registration agency described in subsection 44
143	148		(a) of this section shall, unless the applicant declines, in writing, to register to vote:in consultation 45
144	149		with the State Board, provide, with each application for service or assistance, and with each 46
145	150		recertification, renewal, or change of address relating to such service or assistance, an application 47
146	151		process for automatic voter registration. The person taking the application shall inform the 48
147	152		applicant of the following: 49
148	153		(1) Distribute with each application for service or assistance, and with each 50
149	154		recertification, renewal, or change of address relating to such service or 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
150		-	Page 4 ~~Senate Bill 457-First Edition~~
	155	+	Page 4 DRS35166-LUe-45A
151	156		assistance:That the applicant shall be registered to vote or have the applicant's 1
152	157		voter registration record updated, as applicable, unless the applicant declines. 2
153	158		a. The voter registration application form described in G.S. 163-82.3(a) 3
154	159		or (b); or 4
155	160		b. The voter registration agency's own form, if it is substantially 5
156	161		equivalent to the form described in G.S. 163-82.3(a) or (b) and has 6
157	162		been approved by the State Board of Elections, provided that the 7
158	163		agency's own form may be a detachable part of the agency's paper 8
159	164		application or may be a paperless computer process, as long as the 9
160	165		applicant is required to sign an attestation as part of the application to 10
161	166		register. 11
162	167		(2) Provide a form that contains the elements required by section 7(a)(6)(B) of 12
163	168		the National Voter Registration Act; andThe qualifications to vote under 13
164	169		G.S. 163-55. 14
165	170		(3) Provide to each applicant who does not decline to register to vote the same 15
166	171		degree of assistance with regard to the completion of the registration 16
167	172		application as is provided by the office with regard to the completion of its 17
168	173		own forms.That the applicant should not register if the applicant does not meet 18
169	174		the qualifications described under subdivision (2) of this subsection. 19
170	175		(4) That any person who willfully and knowingly and with fraudulent intent gives 20
171	176		false information on the application is guilty of a Class I felony. 21
172	177		(5) That if the applicant declines to register to vote, the fact that the applicant has 22
173	178		declined to register will remain confidential and be used for voter registration 23
174	179		purposes only. 24
175	180		(6) Information regarding the address confidentiality program under Chapter 15C 25
176	181		of the General Statutes, including how to register for the program and how 26
177	182		voter registration may impact participation in the program. 27
178	183		(b1) Requirements. – If the applicant does not decline voter registration, the person taking 28
179	184		the application shall require the applicant to provide all information requested of the applicant 29
180	185		under G.S. 163-82.4, including declaring a preference to be affiliated with a political party or a 30
181	186		preference to be an unaffiliated voter. If the applicant fails to declare a political party affiliation, 31
182	187		the applicant's political affiliation shall be designated as unaffiliated. The applicant shall provide 32
183	188		an electronic signature as required under G.S. 163-82.6(c), subject to the penalty of perjury, by 33
184	189		which the applicant attests that the information provided by the applicant is true and that the 34
185	190		applicant meets all qualifications to become a registered voter. 35
186	191		(c) Employment Security Law Applicants. – Provided that voter registration agencies 36
187	192		designated under subdivision (a)(3) of this section shall only be required to provide the services 37
188	193		set out in this subsection to applicants for new claims, reopened claims, and changes of address 38
189	194		under Chapter 96 of the General Statutes, the Employment Security Law. 39
190	195		(d) Home Registration for Disabled. – If a voter registration agency provides services to 40
191	196		a person with disability at the person's home, the voter registration agency shall provide the 41
192	197		services described in subsection (b) of this section at the person's home. However, the agency is 42
193	198		not required to provide automatic voter registration at the person's home. 43
194	199		… 44
195	200		(f) Confidentiality of Declination to Register. – No information relating to a declination 45
196	201		to register to vote in connection with an application made at a voter registration agency may be 46
197	202		used for any purpose other than voter registration. The State Board shall ensure that information 47
198	203		acquired for purposes of automatic voter registration under this section is kept confidential in 48
199	204		accordance with G.S. 163-82.4(c), including compliance with any voter registration requirements 49
200	205		under G.S. 163-82.10. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
201		-	~~Senate Bill 457-First Edition~~ Page 5
	206	+	DRS35166-LUe-45A Page 5
202	207		(g) Transmittal From Agency to Board of Elections. – Any voter registration application 1
203	208		completed at a voter registration agency shall be accepted by that agency in lieu of the applicant's 2
204	209		mailing the application. Any such application so received shall be transmitted The agency shall 3
205	210		electronically transmit the applications of applicants who did not decline voter registration to the 4
206	211		appropriate board of elections not later than five business days after acceptance, according to 5
207	212		rules which shall be promulgated by the State Board of Elections. 6
208	213		… 7
209	214		(i) Ineligible Applications Prohibited. – No person shall make application to register to 8
210	215		vote under this section if that person is ineligible on account of age, citizenship, lack of residence 9
211	216		for the period of time provided by law, or because of conviction of a felony. However, if a person 10
212	217		who is ineligible to vote becomes registered to vote pursuant to this section, the presumption 11
213	218		shall be that the person's registration is deemed officially authorized and shall not be attributed 12
214	219		to any fault of the person. 13
215	220		(j) No Requirement to Determine Eligibility. – Nothing in this section shall be construed 14
216	221		as requiring agencies to determine eligibility for voter registration and voting." 15
217	222		SECTION 5.(a) G.S. 163-82.20A reads as rewritten: 16
218	223		"§ 163-82.20A. Voter registration upon restoration of citizenship. 17
219	224		The State Board of Elections, the Division of Prisons of the Department of Adult Correction, 18
220	225		and the Administrative Office of the Courts shall jointly develop and implement educational 19
221	226		programs and procedures for persons to apply to register to vote at the time they are restored to 20
222	227		citizenship and all filings required have been completed under Chapter 13 of the General Statutes. 21
223	228		Those procedures shall be designed to do both of the following: 22
224	229		(1) Inform the person that the restoration of rights removes the person's 23
225	230		disqualification from voting, but that in order to vote the person must register 24
226	231		to vote.vote, including informing the person of automatic voter registration in 25
227	232		accordance with G.S. 163-82.19. 26
228	233		(2) Provide an opportunity to that person to register to vote. 27
229	234		At a minimum, the program shall include a written notice to the person whose citizenship has 28
230	235		been restored, informing that person that the person may now register to vote, with a voter 29
231	236		registration form enclosed with the notice." 30
232	237		SECTION 5.(b) G.S. 163-82.20A, as amended by subsection (a) of this section, 31
233	238		reads as rewritten: 32
234	239		"§ 163-82.20A. Voter registration upon restoration of citizenship. 33
235	240		The State Board of Elections, the Division of Prisons of the Department of Adult Correction, 34
236	241		and the Administrative Office of the Courts shall jointly develop and implement educational 35
237	242		programs and procedures for persons to apply to register to vote at the time they are restored to 36
238	243		citizenship and all filings required have been completed under Chapter 13 of the General Statutes. 37
239	244		Those procedures shall be designed to do both of the following: 38
240	245		(1) Inform the person that the restoration of rights removes the person's 39
241	246		disqualification from voting, but that in order to vote the person must register 40
242	247		to vote, including informing the person of automatic voter registration in 41
243	248		accordance with G.S. 163-82.19.G.S. 115D-5, 116-11, 163-82.19, or 42
244	249		163-82.20. 43
245	250		(2) Provide an opportunity to that person to register to vote. 44
246	251		At a minimum, the program shall include a written notice to the person whose citizenship has 45
247	252		been restored, informing that person that the person may now register to vote, with a voter 46
248	253		registration form enclosed with the notice." 47
249	254		SECTION 5.(c) Subsection (a) of this section becomes effective January 1, 2026. 48
250	255		Subsection (b) of this section becomes effective January 1, 2027. 49
251	256		SECTION 6. G.S. 115D-5 reads as rewritten: 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
252		-	Page 6 ~~Senate Bill 457-First Edition~~
	257	+	Page 6 DRS35166-LUe-45A
253	258		"§ 115D-5. Administration of institutions by State Board of Community Colleges; 1
254	259		personnel exempt from North Carolina Human Resources Act; extension 2
255	260		courses; tuition waiver; in-plant training; contracting, etc., for establishment 3
256	261		and operation of extension units of the community college system; use of existing 4
257	262		public school facilities.facilities; automatic voter registration. 5
258	263		(a) The State Board of Community Colleges may adopt and execute such policies, 6
259	264		regulations and standards concerning the establishment, administration, and operation of 7
260	265		institutions as the State Board may deem necessary to insure the quality of educational programs, 8
261	266		to promote the systematic meeting of educational needs of the State, and to provide for the 9
262	267		equitable distribution of State and federal funds to the several institutions. 10
263	268		… 11
264	269		(aa) Automatic Voter Registration. – Beginning January 1, 2027, the State Board of 12
265	270		Community Colleges, in consultation with the State Board of Elections, shall provide each person 13
266	271		who is enrolled and registering for courses as a student in a State community college the option 14
267	272		for automatic voter registration as follows: 15
268	273		(1) Information provided to student. – In providing an automatic voter registration 16
269	274		application process, the person taking the application shall inform the student 17
270	275		of the following: 18
271	276		a. That the student shall be registered to vote or have the student's voter 19
272	277		registration record updated, as applicable, unless the student declines. 20
273	278		b. The qualifications to vote under G.S. 163-55. 21
274	279		c. That the student should not register if the student does not meet the 22
275	280		qualifications described under sub-subdivision b. of this subdivision. 23
276	281		d. That any person who willfully and knowingly and with fraudulent 24
277	282		intent gives false information on the application is guilty of a Class I 25
278	283		felony. 26
279	284		e. That if the student declines to register to vote, the fact that the student 27
280	285		has declined to register will remain confidential and be used for voter 28
281	286		registration purposes only. 29
282	287		f. Information regarding the address confidentiality program under 30
283	288		Chapter 15C of the General Statutes, including how to register for the 31
284	289		program and how voter registration may impact participation in the 32
285	290		program. 33
286	291		(2) Requirements. – If the student does not decline voter registration, the person 34
287	292		taking the application shall require the student to provide all information 35
288	293		requested of the student under G.S. 163-82.4, including declaring a preference 36
289	294		to be affiliated with a political party or a preference to be an unaffiliated voter. 37
290	295		If the student fails to declare a political party affiliation, the student's political 38
291	296		affiliation shall be designated as unaffiliated. The student shall provide an 39
292	297		electronic signature as required under G.S. 163-82.6(c), subject to the penalty 40
293	298		of perjury, by which the student attests that the information provided by the 41
294	299		student is true and the student meets all qualifications to become a registered 42
295	300		voter. 43
296	301		(3) Confidentiality of declination to register. – No information relating to a 44
297	302		declination to register to vote in connection with an application made at a State 45
298	303		community college may be used for any purpose other than voter registration. 46
299	304		The State Board shall ensure that information acquired for purposes of 47
300	305		automatic voter registration under this section is kept confidential in 48
301	306		accordance with G.S. 163-82.4, including compliance with any voter 49
302	307		registration requirements under G.S. 163-82.10. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
303		-	~~Senate Bill 457-First Edition~~ Page 7
	308	+	DRS35166-LUe-45A Page 7
304	309		(4) Transmittal from State community college to board of elections. – The State 1
305	310		community college shall electronically transmit the applications of students 2
306	311		who did not decline voter registration to the appropriate board of elections not 3
307	312		later than five business days after acceptance, according to rules which shall 4
308	313		be promulgated by the State Board. 5
309	314		(5) Twenty-five–day deadline for an election. – Applications to register accepted 6
310	315		by a State community college shall entitle a registrant to vote in any primary, 7
311	316		general, or special election unless the registrant shall have made application 8
312	317		later than the twenty-fifth calendar day immediately preceding the primary, 9
313	318		general, or special election, provided that nothing shall prohibit State 10
314	319		community colleges from continuing to accept applications during that period. 11
315	320		(6) Ineligible applications prohibited. – No person shall make application to 12
316	321		register to vote under this subsection if that person is ineligible because of age, 13
317	322		citizenship, lack of residence for the period of time provided by law, or 14
318	323		conviction of a felony. However, if a person who is ineligible to vote becomes 15
319	324		registered to vote pursuant to this subsection, the presumption shall be that the 16
320	325		person's registration is deemed officially authorized and shall not be attributed 17
321	326		to any fault of the person. 18
322	327		(7) No requirement to determine eligibility. – Nothing in this subsection shall be 19
323	328		construed as requiring State community colleges to determine eligibility for 20
324	329		voter registration and voting." 21
325	330		SECTION 7. G.S. 116-11 reads as rewritten: 22
326	331		"§ 116-11. Powers and duties generally. 23
327	332		The powers and duties of the Board of Governors shall include the following: 24
328	333		… 25
329	334		(15) Automatic voter registration. – Beginning January 1, 2027, the Board of 26
330	335		Governors, in consultation with the State Board of Elections, shall provide 27
331	336		each person who is enrolled and registering for courses as a student in a State 28
332	337		college or university in The University of North Carolina System the option 29
333	338		for automatic voter registration as follows: 30
334	339		a. Information provided to student. – In providing an automatic voter 31
335	340		registration application process, the person taking the application shall 32
336	341		inform the student of the following: 33
337	342		1. That the student shall be registered to vote or have the student's 34
338	343		voter registration record updated, as applicable, unless the 35
339	344		student declines. 36
340	345		2. The qualifications to vote under G.S. 163-55. 37
341	346		3. That the student should not register if the student does not meet 38
342	347		the qualifications described under sub-sub-subdivision 2. of 39
343	348		this sub-subdivision. 40
344	349		4. That any person who willfully and knowingly and with 41
345	350		fraudulent intent gives false information on the application is 42
346	351		guilty of a Class I felony. 43
347	352		5. That if the student declines to register to vote, the fact that the 44
348	353		student has declined to register will remain confidential and be 45
349	354		used for voter registration purposes only. 46
350	355		6. Information regarding the address confidentiality program 47
351	356		under Chapter 15C of the General Statutes, including how to 48
352	357		register for the program and how voter registration may impact 49
353	358		participation in the program. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
354		-	Page 8 ~~Senate Bill 457-First Edition~~
	359	+	Page 8 DRS35166-LUe-45A
355	360		b. Requirements. – If the student does not decline voter registration, the 1
356	361		person taking the application shall require the student to provide all 2
357	362		information requested of the student under G.S. 163-82.4, including 3
358	363		declaring a preference to be affiliated with a political party or a 4
359	364		preference to be an unaffiliated voter. If the student fails to declare a 5
360	365		political party affiliation, the student's political affiliation shall be 6
361	366		designated as unaffiliated. The student shall provide an electronic 7
362	367		signature as required under G.S. 163-82.6(c), subject to the penalty of 8
363	368		perjury, by which the student attests that the information provided by 9
364	369		the student is true and the student meets all qualifications to become a 10
365	370		registered voter. 11
366	371		c. Confidentiality of declination to register. – No information relating to 12
367	372		a declination to register to vote in connection with an application made 13
368	373		at a State college or university in The University of North Carolina 14
369	374		System may be used for any purpose other than voter registration. The 15
370	375		State Board shall ensure that information acquired for purposes of 16
371	376		automatic voter registration under this section is kept confidential in 17
372	377		accordance with G.S. 163-82.4, including compliance with any voter 18
373	378		registration requirements under G.S. 163-82.10. 19
374	379		d. Transmittal from State college or university to board of elections. – 20
375	380		The State college or university in The University of North Carolina 21
376	381		System shall electronically transmit the applications of students who 22
377	382		did not decline voter registration to the appropriate board of elections 23
378	383		not later than five business days after acceptance, according to rules 24
379	384		which shall be promulgated by the State Board. 25
380	385		e. Twenty-five–day deadline for an election. – Applications to register 26
381	386		accepted by a State college or university in The University of North 27
382	387		Carolina System shall entitle a registrant to vote in any primary, 28
383	388		general, or special election unless the registrant shall have made 29
384	389		application later than the twenty-fifth calendar day immediately 30
385	390		preceding the primary, general, or special election, provided that 31
386	391		nothing shall prohibit State colleges or universities in The University 32
387	392		of North Carolina System from continuing to accept applications 33
388	393		during that period. 34
389	394		f. Ineligible applications prohibited. – No person shall make application 35
390	395		to register to vote under this subdivision if that person is ineligible 36
391	396		because of age, citizenship, lack of residence for the period of time 37
392	397		provided by law, or conviction of a felony. However, if a person who 38
393	398		is ineligible to vote becomes registered to vote pursuant to this 39
394	399		subdivision, the presumption shall be that the person's registration is 40
395	400		deemed officially authorized and shall not be attributed to any fault of 41
396	401		the person. 42
397	402		g. No requirement to determine eligibility. – Nothing in this subdivision 43
398	403		shall be construed as requiring State colleges or universities in The 44
399	404		University of North Carolina System to determine eligibility for voter 45
400	405		registration and voting." 46
401	406		SECTION 8. The State Board of Elections shall establish and implement an 47
402	407		education and outreach campaign to inform voters of the automatic voter registration procedures 48
403	408		established pursuant to this act. 49 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
404		-	~~Senate Bill 457-First Edition~~ Page 9
	409	+	DRS35166-LUe-45A Page 9
405	410		SECTION 9. Sections 1 through 3 of this act become effective January 1, 2026. 1
406	411		Sections 4, 6, and 7 of this act become effective January 1, 2027. Except as otherwise provided, 2
407	412		the remainder of this act is effective when it becomes law. 3